Georgia Power wrapped up the 2nd annual Teacher Externship last week. A group of educators from around the state joined Georgia Power’s Workforce Development team in Atlanta for a four-day experiential learning event. Participants from nine counties represented Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE), College and Career Academies and Counselors.

Designed to give educators a first-hand look and understanding of the types of work and skills students need to be successful in the energy industry and other in-demand careers in Georgia, the externship visited several Georgia Power facilities and operations centers. Neeraj Jain from Savannah-Chatham School District describes the externships as one of the most unique and enriching experiences ever. “The firsthand experiences from touring various facilities, being able to interact with industry experts at every location, and throughout having meaningful conversations with fellow externship participants, were very valuable. We gained unparalleled exposure and insights of the emerging jobs and opportunities available to our students through Georgia Power in a variety of areas, from working on power distribution systems as a line worker, to working on Microgrid as an engineer, to working in a Nuclear Power Plant as Nuclear Power Plant Technician. I can’t wait to share those invaluable insights and spark new conversations with my students to help them get ready for promising careers in the workforce.”

High school students can take advantage of Georgia Power apprenticeship programs and on-the-job training in linework, network underground and power plant operations. “The Georgia Power Teacher Externship has opened my eyes to the various high skilled careers available to students upon graduating from high school,” note Business teacher and work-based learning coordinator Kathy Johnson, from Richmond County School District. “Participating in this engaging teacher externship has shown me the importance of having direct experiences that connect classroom learning with real world applications and given me insight into the technical and soft skills needed for energy careers.”

To learn more about energy careers, click here.